Avast
FreemiumPopular free antivirus with paid upgrades.
Best for: Home users wanting free protection.
- Malware protection
- Wi-Fi inspector
- Web shield
- Free edition
Best antivirus software in 2026
Antivirus software detects and removes malware, blocks dangerous sites and downloads, and often bundles extras such as a VPN or password manager. Windows already includes Microsoft Defender, so paid suites must justify their extras.
7 tools compared. Top picks first, then alphabetical. No paid placements.
Bitdefender
FreemiumHighly rated antivirus with light system impact.
Best for: Users who want top protection without slowing their computer.
- Malware protection
- Ransomware protection
- Web protection
- VPN (limited)
ESET
Free trialLightweight antivirus and security for homes and businesses.
Best for: Users and businesses wanting efficient, low-impact protection.
- Malware protection
- Anti-phishing
- Firewall
- Banking protection
Malwarebytes
FreemiumMalware removal and real-time protection.
Best for: Cleaning infected computers and adding a second layer of protection.
- Malware scanning and removal
- Real-time protection (paid)
- Browser guard
- Ransomware protection
McAfee Total Protection
Free trialSecurity suite with antivirus, VPN and identity protection.
Best for: Families protecting many devices.
- Antivirus
- Secure VPN
- Identity monitoring
- Password manager
Free antivirus built into Windows.
Best for: Windows users who want solid free protection with no extra software.
- Real-time protection
- Ransomware protection
- SmartScreen
- Firewall
Norton 360
Free trialSecurity suite with antivirus, VPN, password manager and backup.
Best for: Households that want an all-in-one security bundle.
- Malware protection
- Secure VPN
- Password manager
- Cloud backup